Forming A Club Gets Mutts Out Of Doghouse

Mutts, like a lot of other things that are common and plentiful -- soybeans, say, or Chevrolets -- don`t get much respect.

While owners of purebred pets are busy showing off their latest dog-show pictures and bragging about their canine`s championship lineage, what is a mutt owner to do?

Regina Cates of Birmingham, Ala., has an answer: Tell the braggarts about the American Mixbreed Society.

``I thought it was time for an organization that honors pets of mixed heritage,`` said Cates, whose 7-year-old dog, R.J., is ``half Lhasa apso and half Heinz 57.``

``My dog is just as good as any other dog,`` she said in a recent telephone interview. Never mind that R.J. ``looked like a vampire rat`` when Cates brought her home from the humane society seven years ago. R.J. (which does not stand for ``Regina Junior,`` by the way -- just plain old ``R.J.``) matured nicely.

Even Cates` father, a devotee of purebred Labrador retrievers, was smitten with the odd little dog. It was he who suggested that his daughter give mixed breeds their own organization. (Note that he did not suggest they join the exclusive American Kennel Club, which is for purebreds.)

So it was that Cates, who manages a Birmingham manufacturing-firm office on weekdays and plays drums in an all-woman rock band on weekends, began computer-cataloging pets from across the country. R.J. as well as Cates` two cats, Tiger and Goudie, were founding members.

Since Cates established the society in July (American Mixbreed Society, 2900 10th Ave. S., Birmingham, Ala. 35205), registrations have been flowing in from folks across the country who want to see their mutts and, yes, alley cats too, get a little respect. The society now has about 75 animals registered.

Cates, 28, described her motivation for setting up the society as ``99 percent serious and only 1 percent cute. It`s very important to me to be able to give them a place they can call their own -- not only the dogs and cats, but the owners. I will not give up until it`s a nationally recognized society.``

For a one-time registration fee of $7, pet owners receive a certificate of registration, a dog tag with the society logo on one side and the pet`s name and owner`s phone number on the other, and an ``I love my mixbreed`` bumper sticker. Fifty cents of each registration fee is returned to the registrant`s hometown humane society, she said.

Cates has high hopes for the organization. A newsletter for members is in the offing, and she envisions a mixed-breed magazine and competitions.

Each month she has picked the most interesting mixed breed registered, and her selections will become a feature of the newsletter. ``I don`t think anyone will beat August`s winner -- it`s half chow chow and half wolf.``

Starting the society has given her an opportunity to communicate with people all over the country who feel similarly. ``I am really pleased to see how much pleasure people get from their pets. I get letters with pictures of Bunky and Bozo and all like that.

``Every single one of our registrants is the cutest, smartest and best dog. Just like R.J.``